On the surface, it was to have a few more dinners, but in reality, Jing Mian was gradually picking up some essential items for his new life. Besides a few seasonal outfits and necessary live-streaming equipment, he also took childhood photo albums, videos, and some professional computer science books…
Jing Mian guessed that they might start cohabiting before the wedding.
Rather than making a big fuss and hiring a moving company, he decided to move his things bit by bit on his own.
For now, he would store them in his dorm room.
—To prepare for eventually moving to Mr. Ren’s place.
However, Jing Mian suddenly realized that Ren Xingwan probably still didn’t know what he studied.
He hadn’t introduced himself, and Ren Xingwan hadn’t asked.
Jing Mian fell into deep thought.
In a way, his major didn’t seem to have any impact on their arranged marriage… so it had been overlooked.
Moreover, if it weren’t for Ren Congmian’s fame, Jing Mian might not have known what Mr. Ren did for a living even after they started cohabiting.
…This marriage was quite absurd.
But compared to rejection, he felt more shock and a sense of unreality.
Jing Mian consoled himself that not knowing was fine.
In a family-arranged marriage, Jing Mian considered himself quite lucky to have such a match.
—A handsome and wealthy husband, with fans all over the world, who was also his childhood friend, and who offered five million right off the bat.
Who could resist that?
As the school anniversary approached, the campus atmosphere grew increasingly vibrant.
Perhaps it wasn’t usually this lively, but Ren Congmian’s arrival had clearly sent the entire school into an early frenzy.
The top posts on the school forum never dropped, with students preparing posters, clothes, and new shoes, hoping to get a signature at the event. Some even bought light sticks and cheering sticks.
While not all students were hardcore fans, there were always those who had a soft spot for him.
Having such a celebrity visit was a rare treat, and even if they couldn’t get close, it was still worth it to feast their eyes.
Jing Mian stopped at the cafeteria, listening to the enthusiastic discussions of the girls around him about their favorite idol. He lowered his gaze, scanned the QR code, and pointed to the steaming, tempting grilled chicken leg: “Auntie, could I have one more chicken leg, please?”
“Sure thing, handsome.”
Jing Mian carried three servings of food back to the dormitory like a savior.
Last semester, the old professor had been strict about attendance in the C programming course, and he had caught three students skipping class, leading to their failing grades.
Now they were cramming for the make-up exam.
Jing Mian was the only one with free time.
To avoid disturbing his roommates’ studying at night, he had moved his live-streaming sessions to the daytime, choosing a nearby café.
The café was located in a small alley opposite the school.
Though its location was inconspicuous, hidden in a bustling street corner, the environment was unexpectedly elegant and beautiful.
The owner was a gentle old man who had opened the café with his wife after retirement. The operating hours were quite flexible, opening when he woke up and closing when he was tired, but it was quite popular among A University students.
The café’s interior was warmly decorated and tastefully designed, making it an ideal place for reading and chatting.
Jing Mian, carrying his laptop and headphones, went to the counter and ordered a coconut vanilla latte. He then quietly made his way to a corner, set up his computer, and plugged it into a nearby power outlet.
The café was divided into a quiet zone and a chatting zone.
This was Jing Mian’s second-favorite live-streaming location.
From this spot, the background was a warm-colored wall, and the corner was quiet with no one walking by. It wouldn’t reveal his school’s location, nor would it disturb other customers or accidentally appear on camera.
Jing Mian settled in and slowly put on his headphones.
Just as he was about to open his live stream, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Turning around, he saw a woman who looked to be in her fifties.
She looked a bit awkward and apologetic for disturbing him. She whispered, “I’m new to this place. Could you help me order something, preferably something a girl would like? I want to take it to my daughter.”
Jing Mian nodded, “Of course, Auntie.”
He went to the counter, hesitated for a moment, and ordered a cappuccino for the woman. “This one has a mild bitterness and a rich milk flavor, which girls might prefer a bit sweeter.”
“Thank you.” The woman took the cup and couldn’t help but examine Jing Mian closely, sighing, “If my daughter had a boyfriend as kind and polite as you, it would be wonderful.”
Jing Mian: “…”
Her words were a bit out of context and confusing.
Though he didn’t understand, Jing Mian smiled and bid the woman farewell before returning to his seat.
However, not long after sitting down, the woman was guided by a server to the chatting zone.
The café was relatively empty at noon, and there were two empty seats between the woman and Jing Mian.
Jing Mian lowered his gaze, about to start his live stream, when his phone suddenly rang.
He paused, recognizing the caller.
—[Ren Xingwan]
It was an unexpected call.
Jing Mian felt a slight tightness in his throat.
After all, he and Mr. Ren hadn’t seen each other for many days, and they hadn’t spoken either.
He hesitated for a moment but didn’t keep the caller waiting long, quickly answering the call.
“Hello?” Jing Mian paused, “Mr. Ren?”
“Mm.”
The voice on the other end was low and slow, with a cold, magnetic tone that made his ears tingle: “What are you doing?”
Technology was so advanced that it felt like the voice was right next to his ear.
Jing Mian thought Mr. Ren’s voice was indeed pleasant, the kind that made your ears feel pampered.
He took a deep breath, his fingers unconsciously touching the edge of the table, and replied honestly, “I’m at a café.”
The man asked, “Why not at school?”
“No, it’s a café near the school.” Jing Mian hesitated, explaining, “My dorm mates have a make-up exam, and I didn’t want to disturb them, so I came out to find a place.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jing Mian suddenly remembered that he had promised Manager Yang to start living at Mr. Ren’s riverside residence.
He felt a bit embarrassed.
The situation now seemed to be… he had just agreed to cohabit, and today, faced with a situation where he couldn’t return to the dorm, he preferred to hide in a café rather than go to Mr. Ren’s place.
But… it wasn’t his fault.
Jing Mian thought that the news of cohabiting with Ren Xingwan would be a shock to anyone’s system.
Fortunately, the man didn’t mention the cohabitation.
After a moment’s pause, Mr. Ren said, “Tomorrow…”
“Right, they even stole the household registration book!”
The woman’s voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Jing Mian froze, turning to see the woman from earlier.
She was holding her phone, seemingly venting to someone on the other end, growing more agitated as she spoke: “I chased her to the school today to find Yan Yan. She can’t just get married to someone like that. She’s so young, and she doesn’t know anything about the other person’s character, background, or family history…”
“Yes… she’s still a child, can’t wake up in the morning, sleeps until noon, and even washing clothes can hurt her hands. Her cooking skills are limited to making instant noodles, and she knows nothing about relationships… that guy, with his good looks, has completely won her heart.”
Jing Mian’s throat tightened.
Her voice was loud, and every word was clear.
He tried not to take it personally.
After all, he had never hurt his hands while washing clothes.
His heart hadn’t been won over.
But then, the woman sighed and continued:
“Almost thirty years old, and he’s marrying a twenty-year-old college student. Does that make any sense?”
“…” Jing Mian had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the next second, the woman’s voice was filled with pain and indignation:
“What kind of old pervert would go after a beautiful college student?”
Jing Mian’s pupils dilated.
The black mask concealed his expression.
But his fingers, trying to end the call, betrayed his growing panic.
Finally, he touched the red hang-up button.
The call ended at that moment.
“…”
The world suddenly became quiet.
Jing Mian hung up the phone and recalled what had just happened.
He realized he might have been a bit hasty.
For one, the man on the other end might not have heard the woman’s words through the phone.
Even if he had, it might not have been a big deal. By hanging up so abruptly, Jing Mian might have inadvertently confirmed his own suspicions.
He held his phone, feeling incredibly awkward.
He needed to find a way to smooth things over.
Sitting up straight, he waited for a few minutes until the woman with the cappuccino had walked away. Then, he hesitantly picked up his phone and called Ren Xingwan back.
This time, the call was answered almost immediately, much sooner than Jing Mian had expected.
This made him even more nervous.
Jing Mian swallowed, pressing the phone to his ear, trying to sound casual and obedient:
“Mr. Ren, the call seemed to drop just now.”
“It seems the TV was a bit loud… did you say something?”
As he spoke, his long index finger unconsciously curled around his sleeve, a habit he had when lying.
…
There was a moment of silence.
Jing Mian faintly heard the sound of the man’s earpiece being slightly squeezed on the other end.
It sounded like he was trying to hold back a mix of frustration and amusement.